A Norwich social enterprise that aims to bring kindness back into the community has been left “heartbroken” after stock was stolen, but insists those responsible will be met with compassion.

Abbie Clark, marketing and social media manager at The Missing Kind shop, where several t-shirts and sweatshirts were stolen during the Heritage Weekend. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY

The Missing Kind, located on Castle Meadow, has lost “a massive chunk” of its profits after £150 worth of T-shirts were taken as tours of its historic basement took place on Saturday afternoon.

As the staff and volunteers at The Missing Kind and neighbouring Kinda Kafe celebrated a record weekend of profits, triumph soon turned to tears as they realised six organic cotton tops were missing.

The enterprise, which was set up in October 2015, was conducting tours of the Elizabethan House and undercroft from the 1400s that lies beneath the shop.

Abbie Clark, 34, Marketing and Social Media Manager, said: “There were three members of staff and two volunteers, but we were all rushed off our feet in the cafe and running the tours.

“One of the volunteers had lunch in the shop to watch over the stock and finished at 1.30pm.

“I collected everyone at 2.30pm and took them downstairs and when I came upstairs again my colleague Lynda and I realised loads of our stock was gone.”

“Lynda cried and I felt like crying - we were heartbroken.

“We had just done a check to see how much money we had taken in the cafe and we had made more money on a Saturday than we had in months.

“Although it may not sound like much, £150 is a lot for a charity and a massive chunk of our profits.”

The Missing Kind posted an appeal on Facebook for information on the lost items and have urged those responsible to return the items where they can provide support if they have found themselves in a “desperate situation”.

Everything sold at The Missing Kind, which is on the site of the former Ponds shoe shop, ‘is from a local artist, charity or social enterprise and supports a different cause or goodwill project.

Anyone who has any information or CCTV footage should call The Missing Kind on 01603 850309 or call 101 quoting 36/64270/17